Mead, George Herbert

George Herbert Mead was a pioneering American philosopher and sociologist known for his work on social psychology and the development of the self. He argued that our sense of identity forms through social interactions, where we learn to see ourselves from others' perspectives. Mead introduced concepts like the "I" (our spontaneous side) and the "me" (our social self), emphasizing that the self is shaped by communication, especially language. His ideas underscore the importance of society in shaping individual consciousness, highlighting that who we are is fundamentally connected to our social environment and interactions.